With this Special Certificate package, you can be sure of owning updated versions of the first authentic set of four STAR WARS action figures. Inside, there's an Early Bird Certificate that you mail in to get one of these sets. Your set will be mailed to you, postage paid, when it's ready... between May 1, 2005 and December 31, 2005.

The Revenge Of The Sith product launch first time stole all the thunder away from all other Star Wars collectibles, but what many collectors may not realize is that two lines made their debut on April 3, 2005. The obvious one, the Revenge Of The Sith line, wad front and center to prepare all Star Wars collectors for the final Prequel trilogy installment. But the other line, The Saga Collection, was technically released on the same day via the Walmart exclusive Early Bird Certificate Package. Now, keep in mind that The Saga Collection would make its official debut in December later in the year. But the Early Bird Certificate Package was a foreshadowing of what was to come: vintage Kenner-esque inspired packaging and a line for the first time ever that housed all of the film and Expanded universe sources. To start things off right, Hasbro began with the first four figures that started in all in 1978: the Kenner four as they’re affectionately called. Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca and R2-D2 (Artoo-Detoo) would come to collectors postage paid sometime between May 1, 2005, and December 31, 2005, after paying $29.96 for the Early Bird Certificate Package and then following all of the documentation requirements.

The Early Bird Certificate Package was a special treat for longtime Hasbro collectors. It was a resetting or restarting of the line. And the rumors surrounding the goodness that would come forth in The Saga Collection line kickstarted collectors’ passions all over again or to new levels. Either way, collectors could own an awesome replica of a piece of Star Wars collectible history. Hasbro was faithful in painstakingly recreating all of the details of the original Early Bird Certificate Package. Things like fonts, images and even the redemption directions and lingo were all reused with very little editing or changes made. It’s fair to say that nothing was held back to make it as authentic as possible. Additionally, some collectors were leery to purchase the Early Bird Certificate Package. The “empty box” may have worked during the Christmas of 1977, but it didn’t work as well in April 2005. We wouldn’t call it a colossal failure, but even with 50,000 units produced (which in our opinion is A LOT for 2005), many were clearance out for as low as $1.00 each by the time all was said and done. (We know, we bought about a dozen at that price.)

Star Wars collectors were required to not only send in the detached Early Bird Certificate but were also required to include the receipt from Walmart as well as the UPC from the packaging to receive the Early Bird Figures four-pack. This method was designed to prevent redeeming sets that weren't purchased or falsify any of the required documentation. It was a great deal of work to provide all of the "paperwork" and a bit stressful for some. It was difficult to cut out the UPC from the plastic encasement. (Oh the drama of being a Star Wars collector.) To help reduce the pain of waiting months for the four action figures to arrive, Hasbro included the same stickers, trading cards, in addition to the Space Club card which made Star Wars collector full-fledged members of this exclusive group. Collectors could also set up the display stand in the meantime too. The 2005 version looked amazing and let us all relive this powerful nostalgia all over again. Or, if you were too young to experience the original Early Bird Certificate Package, you could now experience this for the first time. Either way, it was a great soft launch for what would become one of the greatest collector-focused Star Wars lines of all time: The Saga Collection.

Collector Notes

Early Bird Certificate Package

Status: The Early Bird Certificate Package is a modern replica of the original Kenner offer that arrived to store shelves Christmas of 1977.